Adjustable cutter



June 6, 1944. O GQEGER 2,350,349

ADJUSTABLE CUTTER Filed Jan. 23, 1943 UH/11mm LE1: El- B02951" Patented June 6, 1944 ADJUSTABLE CUTTER Leo 0. Goeger, Hackettstown, N. J. Application January 23, 1943, Serial No. 473,302

3 Claims. (CI. 86-20) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in a cutting device used in the forming of a base plug cavity in shell loading.

The present practice in loading major caliber shell and projectiles is to first press the powder into the shell body or casing and to then cut out a cavity to adapt the shell for the insertion of a particular sized base plug. This is accomplished by means of a device which comprises essentially a cutter fastened to a large brass cylinder which is guided on the thread of the shell. This practice requires a wide variety of fixed size cylinders and cutters. For example there are from to varieties of 12 inch projectiles, each having a base plug of different size requiring an individual cylinder and cutter to be used in the formation of the base plug cavity. In view of the scarcity of so critical an item as brass, from which both the cylinder and cutter are made, it can readily be seen that there will be considerable use of this material in replacing parts worn or otherwise no longer fit for use. Formation of the base cavity by a type of device, described above, results in the deposit of explosive powder in and about the threads of the shell.

The present invention has as its primary ob- 73 ject the purpose of providing a cutter affixed to an adjustable plate, which will be of such design as to adapt itself to cutting operations for various sized shells and projectiles.

An important feature of the invention is that I a considerable saving of the critical item of brass can be effected by the replacement of the brass cylinder heretofore described, with a frame having adjustable plates adapted for the insertion of a cutting blade.

Another important feature of the invention is that in the utilization of the device herein described there will be no accumulation of explosive powder grains in and about the threads of the shell in the formation of the base plug cavity.

The invention can best be understood from the following description taken in view of the attached drawing on which:

Figure 1 shows a section view;

Figure 2 shows a top plan View of the preferred embodiment of the device;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, l indicates a frame, preferably cross shaped, and comprising four equally sized arms. The frame I serves as a supporting means for the cutter support and height adjusting rollers more fully described hereinafter. Within each arm is a slot, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, which extend throughout the length of each arm, and each of which have along one of its sides, a graduated scale 23 in inches or any preferred division thereof. Positioned within slot 2 is brass plate 6 secured to a sliding plate Ill by means of bolts 8. Likewise contained in slot 3 is a plate 1 similar in design and construction to plate 6. Plate 1 is held in position by means of bolts 9 and sliding plate II. It is understood that each of the plates in and II, carrying along with them plates 6 and 1 respectively, are not in a fixed or stationary position but rather slidably engaged within each of their respective slots. A blade l2 which functions to cut the pressed powder to form the base plug cavity is afiixed to the plates 6 and l by means of bolts 13 and I l.

For the regulation of depth control, there is provided a control means comprising an adapter l5 which is vertically adjustable within a housing 16. Contained within the adapter is a roller I! which rotates about a pin and revolves upon the base of the shell during the cutting operation. Similar constructed depth control devices are positioned in each of the arms of the frame I.

Contained within slots 4 and 5 are brass guides l8 and I9 which are secured to slidably adjustable plates 29 and 2| which serve to keep the blade in alignment. The cutting device is secured to any conventional type of chuck by means of a rod 22 secured to the frame I by any desired means.

In the utilization of the device forming my invention the plates 6 and l are set into any desired position, dependent upon the size of the shell worked upon. The blade E2 of appropriate size and shape is affixed to the plates. The depth control means is then adjusted vertically to a setting to effect the cutting of the base plug cavity to any predetermined depth. At the outset of the cutting operation, the rollers I! will be slightly elevated above the base of the shell. As the cutting operation progresses, the rollers will descend until they rotate upon the surface of the base of the shell or projectile. At the time the roller rotates freely upon the base of the shell, the plug cavity would have been out to its desired depth and no further operation of the cutter will be required.

From the description hereinbefore set forth, it is apparent that the device'descrlbed may be used in the formation of base plug cavities for varied size shells by merely adjustingthe position of the blade at any predetermined point. 7 Where there has been herein described an adjustable cutter of particular design, it is obvious that variousmoclifications may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention.

of said slots," and a cutting blade aflixed to said plates.

2. A cutting device comprising a frame of equally sized'arms; a slot contained within each of said armsya pair of slidably adjustable plates positioned in axial'alignment within one pair' of slots, a cutting blade affixed to said plates, guide meanspositioned in axialalignmentin another pair of slots, and adjustable means for control- Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A cutting device comprising a framed four equally sized arms, a slot contained within each of said arms, a pair of slidably adjustable plates 15 adapter.

positioned in alignment within one pair of said slnts uide means, positioned in the other pair LEO O. GOEGER. 

